Game apparatus



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Q PLL. Wa Myer ,/Iltomey l Patentetfl Apr. 3, 1934 I GAME APPARATUS Robert L.' L. Warner, Hollywood, Calif.

Application April 5, 1932, Serial No. 603,315

5 Claims. (Cl. 273-121) AMy invention relates generally to game apparatus.

The invention relates particularly to a game apparatus of the mechanical type on which isv to be played a game involving mechanically projected balls, and it isan important object of my invention to provide a game apparatus of this type which is both electrically and pneumatically operated, the electrical and pneumatic means being under thecontrol of theoperator, whereby the successful playing of the game is conditioned upon judgment and skill.

It is alsoian important object of my invention yto provide a game apparatus of the type described wherein mechanical and electrical means are utilized to control the course and within limits select the destination of a ball propelled or projec'ted thereon. l

These and other objects and advantages of th invention will be apparent from -a readingl oi the followingdescription ofthe drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. i

' v Figure 1 is a top plan view of the embodiment.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig/- ure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed cross sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is avertical sectionall view through one of the ball trap mechanisms.

A like'numerals refer to like parts throughout thev Figure 5 is'a diagrammatic representation of the wiring system of the device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein same, the numeral 5 generally designates the casing off the device which is' of elongated generally rectangular box form and provided' interiorly below .the top thereof with an Ainclined playing surface 6, and over the playing surface and closing an opening in the top of the casing is a transparent plate 7, which is sufficiently spaced above the playing surface 6 to enable proper action of the balls 8 when projected upon the playing surface.y Under the playing surface 6 is the inclined ball conveyor 9 which empties into a ball reecptacle 10 which is locatedon the outside of the front ofthe casing `5. The balls are tobe takenby hand from the receptacle 10 and deposited one at a time into the vertical tube ,11. The'upper end of thetube 11 has a ange 12 which restsupon the upper surface of' the front; portion 13 of the top of the casing. fI'he lower end of the tube 11 communicates with the bau channei 14 which has an inciiriation similar to that of the playing surface 6 and is mounted at one side of the interior of the casing 5 as in- -dicated in dotted lines in Figure 1.

'I'he rear and elevated end vof 'the ball channel 14 opens upon the playing surface 6 at a point which is tangent to the semi-circular Wall 15 provided by the block 14a, so that a ballemerging ,from the ball channel will strike the semi-circular Wall 15 and have its course changed. Suitable means is provided at the elevatedend ofthe ball channel 14 for preventing return thereinto of a ball on the playing surface, such means not beingspecifically shown.

Bounding the front end of the playing surface vis a vertical partition 15a which is mounted between the casing top portion 13 and the front end portion of the playing surface and spaced `from the front wall 18 of the casing, in such a way as to define' a compartment 16 at the front of the casing. The front end of the playing surface 6 stops short of the front end wall of the casing and a partition 17 depends from the front end of the playing surface 6 and aids in the deflnition of the compartment 16. lSlidable longitudinally in the casing through the front wall 18 thereof 'and through the partition 17 is a ball trap releasing rod 19 to which is pivotally con-V nected 4the lower of the link 2O on each ball trap door, whereby balls caught in the ball traps may be released therefrom by operation of the releas-l ing rod by pushing the rod inwardly so as to open the trap doors and permit the balls to fall into the ball receptacle 9 and be conveyed by tacle to the exterior ball receptacle 10 which has already been described as being located on thc front of the casing.

'I'he playing surface 6 is generally rectangular in form except for the rear end portion thereof which is bounded by the semi-circular wall of the block 14a in the manner already described. Upon the playing surface is a multiplicity of vertical projections 21 which are spaced and arranged in any desired manner to deflect a ball rolling upon the playing surface, in a well known manner.

` Arranged in any desired spaced relationship on the playing surface is a plurality of ball traps 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27. A larger or a smaller number of ball traps may be provided if desired. Each of the ball traps comprises a U-shaped wall surrounding an opening through the playing surface provided with a trap door 28 arranged to be swung downwardly to let a ball trapped bythe 'gravity due to the inclination of the ball recepf kes wallto fall into the ball collector or conveyor 9. To each trap door 28 is connected a link 20 which is operatively connected to the ball trap releasing rod 19. The rod is provided outwardly of the 6 casing with the finger knob 29, and the rod-is located generally centrally of the casing as shown in Figure 1.

Each of the ball traps 22 to 27, inclusive, may be of the same formation or of a different formation. A preferred form of ball trap comprises a generally U-shaped vertical wall 30 having its opening facing toward the rear of the playing surface. At the ends ofthe legs of the U-shaped wall are provided inturned lips 31 which provide a narrow aperture therebetween which prevents entrance into the trap of a ball which has not been accurately directed toward the aperture, and prevent a ball already in the trap from escaping therefrom when struck by another ball entering the trap. The trap doors 28 are hinged at their rear ends so as to open downwardly and toward the front of the casing. As suggested in Figure 1each of the -ball traps may be arbitrarily -designated as one of the members of a card suit and count an arbitrary number of points or values toward a total game score. Across the front end ofthe playing surface there may be provided a transversely spaced series of walls 32 defining with the wall 15a, ball retaining compartments of lower score value than the ball traps 22 to 27. Like the ball traps, the compartments 33 are provided with openings through the playing surface, which are closed by swingable trap doors which are openable by operation of the rod 19 for releasing balls into the ball receptacle 9.

Located in the block' 14a at the rear end of the playing surface, and conforming to the curvature of its Wall 15, is the electro-magnetic element 34 which may be energized to retard the progress of a ball rolling against the Wall 15, for instance, as the ball rst emerges from the ball channel 14 onto the playing surface, whereby to influence the course of the ball. This electromagnetic element 34 is capable of being energized through the agency of one of the series of switch buttons 35 which is located on the front top portion 13 of the casing. as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The series of switch buttons 35 is connected for selectively energizing any of a plurality of electro-magnets 36 which are arranged with their poles in the playing surface, either ush therewith, or depressed therebelow. When energized, the magnets 36 will attract a ball of magnetizable character, such as a hollow steel ball, whenever such ball rolls within the magnetic sphere of the magnets. I prefer to use a hollow steel ball rather than a solid steel ball, because of the advantage in lightness afforded by the hollow steel ball, which because of its light weight, does not require as strong an impelling force.

The magnets 36 are located in ladvance of and spaced from theapertures of the ball traps 22 to 27, inclusive. This arrangement of the magnets ,makes possible control of the course of a ball moving upon the playing surface within the magnetic sphere of the magnets, that is, in the neighborhood of the ball traps, so that by control of the energization of the magnets by manipulating the switch buttons 35, a ball may be deflected from its course and aimed toward the aperture of a ball trap. l y

Other magnets 37, 38 and 39, similar to the magnets 36, may be located at various other arbitrarily selected points in the playing surface, and in advance of the entrances'of the compartments 33 for further influencing the course of a ball moving upon the playing surface.

The ball impelling or projecting mechanism will now be described. The frontend of the ball channel v14, where it joins the lower end of the tube 11, is open and receivesl the rear end portion of a.

tubular cylinder' 40. The rear end portion of the cylinder 40 which is within the ball channel 14, is open and has its edges turned in and forming lips 41 which define a reduced opening at this end of the cylinder 40, and provide means for preventing balls from entering the rear end of the cylinder, while permitting a small portion of a ball to project therein so that the ball may be properly acted upon. by the ejector mallet 42, for propelling the ball rearwardly through the ball channel 14 and to and upon the playing surface as already described. The front end of the air cylinder 40-is closed as indicated at 42. Slidable through this front end of the air chamber 40 and through the front wall 18 of the casing, is a, nger knob equipped plunger 43 which may be worked in'- wardly and outwardly to control a valve 44 which controls compressed air supply to the air cylinder 40, at a point behind the ejector mallet 42 in a manner to be described. The valve 44 is in communication with the compressed air storage 45 which is suppliedwith compressed air by a motor driven pump 46 which may or may not be contained within the casing 5.

Projecting through the floor of the ball channel 14 and cylinder 49 is a detent 47 which is in the form of an armature of a solenoid 48. The detent 47 is normally spring projected into the air cylinder 40 and is capable of being retracted by energization of the solenoid 48 by pressing the control button 49 which is located in front of the ball tube 11 on the front top portion 13 of the casing, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. When in its normally projected position, the detent 4'7 engages in the vgroove 50 in the rear part of the ejector mallet 42 in a 'manner to maintain the mallet in its initial position, until -suiflcient air pressure has been built up in the air cylinder behind the ejector mallet, to cause the mallet to release itself from the detent 47 and travel rearwardly and strike and impel a ball 8 in position in the ball channel 14. Control of the force with which the ball may be propelled is effected through control of the amount of air pressure in the cylinder 40 behind the ejector mallet 42. 'Ihe valve 44 is operable by the rod 43 to control the admission of air pressure into the cylinder 40, whereby to enable predetermining the force with which the ball`8 is to be struck by the ejector mallet 42. It 130 will be observed that the ejector mallet 42 is provided with a bullet nose which will strike the ball 8 in advance of the mallets being stopped by the inturned lip 41 at the rearward end of the air cylinder 40.

The arrangement described permits of retracting the detent 47 prior to its automatic release which is consequent upon the building up of a sunlcient pressure in the cylinder 40 behind the mallet, simply by pressing the control button 49. 140 Because of the comparatively low air pressure then in the cylinder 40 behind the mallet, a ball propelled under such circumstances willreach the playing surface at a reduced speed. Proper and skillful manipulation of the rod 43 is required 145 for accurately predetermining the speed with which the-balls are propelled upon the playing surface.

In Figure 5 is shown a conventional hook-up of the magnets 36, 37, 38, and ofthe solenoid 48 150 series of control switches 35, and with the control .but requires someassisting means.

switch button 49, yand with the source of electrical energy. Any suitable wiring system may be utilized which is of simple and easily accessible arrangement.

It will be observed that the ejector or mallet 42 is provided to have a rather snug sliding lt in the air cylinder 40, and because of this, the mallet will not return gravitationally from operatedto initial position for engaging with the detent 4'7, I provide such assisting means in the form of a light coiled spring which is attached at one end to the mallet and at itsV- other end to the valve 44 or to some other suitable location at the front end of the air cylinder 40. Thesprin'g 50' is of such construction that it will not prevent proper operation of the mallet 42.

Though I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment .of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit Vthe application-of the invention thereto, and any with the spirit of the `invention 'e of the subjoined claims.

change or. changes may be' made in material and structure and arrangement of parts, consistent and the scope l. A ball game apparatus comprising an inclined playing surface, a magnetizable ballprojectibl thereon, ball projecting means, ball receiving and confining trap means on the playing sur- .face toward `which and into which the ball may roll, saidtrap means comprising openings facing the elevated end of the playing surface, electromagnetic means in the playing surface in frontvol? each of the openings for attracting a'ball toclined playing surfacaan arcuate wall member bounding the elevated end of the playing surface,

an arcuate electro-magnetic element in and conforming to the wall member, a magnetizable ball projectible on the playing surface in a vmanner to initially engageand be deected upon the playing surface by the arcuate wall` member, ball projecting means and means for selectively ener sizing the arcuate4 electro-magnetic element for influencing the speed and course of the ball with l. respect to the arcuate wall member.

5x5-fone" end connecting with the playing surface and 3. In a ballgame apparatus vhaving a playing surface, a Jball projectileerollable thereon, ball projecting meansy comprising a channel -having an opening at 'the other end, a pneumatic cylinder in the opening, a pneumatically operated spring returned mallet slidable through the pneusurface, a ball projectile rollable thereon, ball projecting means comprising a channel having one end connecting withthe playing surface and an opening'at the other end, a pneumatic cylinder in the opening, a pneumatically operated spring returned mallet slidablethrough the pneumatic cylinder and having a' portion arranged to extend into the channel for striking and' projecting the'ball -through thechannel when the mallet is operated, fluid pressure storing means, controllable valve meansA controlling the communication of the storing means with the'cylin-v4 der for operating the mallet, andv detent means in the pneumatic cylinder arranged to normally engage and hold the mallet in initial position until a predetermined mallet operating pressure obtains in the pneumatic cylinder and causes the mallet to overcome the detent and move into operative ball projecting position.

5.A In a ball game apparatus having a playing surface, a ball projectile rollable thereon, ball projecting means comprising a channel having one end connecting with ythe playing surface and an opening at the other end, a pneumatic cylinder in the opening, a pneumatically operatedI spring ,returned mallet slidable through the pneumatic cylinder and having a portion arranged to extend into the channel for striking and projecting the ball through the channel when the mallet is operated, fluid pressur storing means, controllable themallet, and detent means in the pneumatic `matic cylinder and having a portion arranged l cylinder `arranged to normally engage and hold the mallet in initial position until a predetermined mallet operating pressure obtains in the pneumatic cylinder and causes the mallet to overcome the detent and move'into operative ball projecting position, and controllable electromag- -netic -means for retracting the detent to enable operation ofthe mallet by a pressure less 'than the predetermined pressure. C 

